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Parts of speech Lesson and activities

Parts of Speech
Outline

Lessons and Activities

Nouns
Pronouns
Adjectives
Verbs
Adverbs
Prepositions
Conjunctions
Interjections

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Parts of speech Lesson and activities

Parts of speech

Nouns
A noun is the name of a person, place, thing, or idea:

People farmer, mechanic, father, Professor Haskins, editors, Marcia

Places ocean, Canada, porch, Spain, classroom
Things scissors, giraffe, pen, smiles, tugboat, skateboard, braces, drill
Ideas love, inspiration, courage, anxiety, eagerness, happiness

All nouns are either common or proper nouns:

 A common noun names any person, place, or thing. Examples are basketball, video,
wizard, coin, woman, and coach.
 A proper noun names a particular person, place, or thing and begins with a capital
letter. Examples are Winston Churchill, Babe Ruth, Mr. Richard Turner, and Chicago.
Know the difference between a common and a proper noun:

Common Nouns Proper Nouns

hospital Mercy General Hospital
woman Martha Washington
school Sayville Middle School
newspaper The New York Times

Here are some specific types of nouns:

A collective noun names a group of people or things. Examples of collective nouns are
jury, herd, flock, family, fleet, club, class, and group.
A compound noun is a noun consisting of more than a single word. It could be separate
words such as social studies, physical education, and dining room. It could be two words
joined by a hyphen such as merry-go-round, thirty-three, sister-in-law, and great-
grandmother. It could be a combined word such as schoolteacher, bookkeeper, landlord, and
headmaster.

Exercise
Underline each noun in the following sentences. Then write the first letter of each noun on the
line next to the sentence. If your answers are correct, you will spell out the words of a
quotation and the name of the famous American who said the quotation. Write the quotation
and its author’s name on the lines below sentence 15.
1. ________ Wendy located her housekeeper.
2. ________Some answers on this test are about electricity.
3. ________Her violin and easel were missing.
4. ________Their rabbit that left the yard was returned by the offi cer.
5. ________He used this umbrella in Alabama.
6. ________After the rain, the electrician checked the box.
7. ________The end of the afternoon arrived quickly.
8. ________This group is funny.

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9. ________The ostrich and the orangutan are interesting.

10. ________ My doctor and my orthodontist are neighbors.
11. ________In the evening, Archie likes to go boating.
12. ________Unfortunately, he had a rash and an allergy.
13. ________Her height and agility helped her win the match.
14. ________Linda cared for the infant throughout the night.
15. ________The garbage carton near the oven had licorice and noodles in it.

The quotation and its author:

Pronouns
A pronoun is a word used in place of one or more nouns. We use pronouns to: Refer to
a noun (called its antecedent) that usually comes before the pronoun. Make our writing
clearer, smoother, and less awkward. In the sentence, “Roberto feels that he can win the race,”
he is the pronoun, and Roberto is the antecedent. In the sentence, “Terry and Jim know that
they are best friends,” they is the pronoun, and Terry and Jim are the noun antecedents.
There are several types of pronouns.
Personal pronouns refer to people and things. They are divided into three categories called
first person (referring to the person who is speaking: I went to the mall), second person
(referring to the person spoken to: Joey, can you see the bus?), and third person (referring to
anyone or anything else: He saw us do this assignment). The pronouns in the two example
sentences above are personal pronouns.

The following list shows these three categories of personal pronouns:

First person I me we us
Second person you
Third person he, him, she, her, they, them.

Possessive pronouns refer the owner. They are also divided into three categories:
First person mine ours
Second person yours
Third person his, hers, its, theirs.
For example: That book is yours, but mine is in my bag.

In addition to personal pronouns, there are several other types of pronouns:

A reflexive pronoun is formed by adding - self or - selves to certain personal pronouns.
Examples of reflexive pronouns are myself, himself, herself, itself, ourselves, themselves,
yourself, and yourselves. The sentence, “I found it myself,” contains the personal pronoun I
and the reflexive pronoun myself.

An interrogative pronoun is used to ask a question. These pronouns are which, who, whom,
and whose.

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A demonstrative pronoun is used to point out a specific person or thing. These pronouns
include this, that, these, and those. In the sentence, “Theresa, is this yours?” this is the
demonstrative pronoun, and yours is the possessive pronoun.

An indefinite pronoun often does not refer to a specific or definite person or thing. It usually
does not have a definite or specific antecedent as a personal pronoun does. In the sentence,
“Everybody will select someone to help with everything,” the three italicized words are all
indefinite pronouns since they take the place of a noun and do not refer to a specific or
definite person or thing. These are all indefinite pronouns:
all each more one another either most other any everybody much several anybody
everyone neither some anyone everything nobody somebody anything few none
someone both many no one

WRITING TIP
Make sure that your pronouns are clear so that readers will not be confused. In the sentence,
“John told Fred that he had been invited to Lucy’s party,” do we know who he is? Not really!
Set up the situation preceding that sentence so that it is clear who he is.

Exercise
Circle ten different pronouns in this paragraph. For the total of ten pronouns, if a pronoun
appears more than once within the paragraph, count it only once.

I could not fall asleep last night. It felt as if somebody kept knocking on the window keeping
me up most of the night. This is pretty unusual. So I tried to calm myself down and think
about other things besides being unable to sleep. All of my work paid off when I finally fell
asleep.

Adjectives
An adjective modifies (qualifies or limits the meaning of ) a noun or a pronoun. It answers the
questions, What kind? Which one(s)? How many? How much?

Carrie read an interesting story. (What kind of story?)

The recent article has that information. (Which article?)
Kent owns those surfboards. (Which surfboards?)
Wendy paid fifty dollars for the jacket. (How many dollars?)
Much space was devoted to her artwork. (How much space?)

An adjective can come before or after the noun or pronoun it describes:

Older cards are found on the table. (Which cards?)
Tall players and intelligent coaches were interviewed by the interested reporter.
(Which players? Which coaches? Which reporter?)
Tired and hungry, the campers reached the lodge. (What kind of campers?)
The campers, tired and hungry, reached the lodge. (What kind of campers?)

There are several types of adjectives:

A proper adjective is formed from a proper noun.
Italian bread, Herculean strength, Midas touch, Canadian sunset

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A compound adjective is a word composed of two or more words. Sometimes these words are
hyphenated.
landmark decision, black-and-blue mark, hometown hero

Do not use a hyphen after an adverb ending in -ly.

newly painted mural, sickly sweet odor, recently purchased

WRITING TIP
Adjectives tell more and help your reader know more about people, places, and things. Select
the precise word to describe people, places, and things. Which is the most accurate adjective
to describe the student: smart, brilliant, insightful, clever, brainy, or bright?
Decide. Use a dictionary to find the subtle difference in adjectives that are closely related in
meaning.

Exercise
1 Name three complimentary adjectives that describe one of your friends:
__________________ ___________________ ____________________

2. Name three adjectives that describe the beach on a summer’s day:

__________________ ___________________ ____________________

3. Name three adjectives that describe a Super Bowl crowd:

__________________ ___________________ ____________________

4. Name three adjectives that describe one of your Halloween costumes:

__________________ ___________________ ____________________

5. Name three adjectives that describe a famous actor or actress:

__________________ ___________________ ____________________

6. Name three adjectives that describe a book or magazine article that you recently read:
__________________ ___________________ ____________________

7. Name three adjectives that describe a typical spring day where you live:
__________________ ___________________ ____________________

8. Name three adjectives that describe your favorite song:

__________________ ___________________ ____________________

9. Name three adjectives that describe one of your recent math tests:
__________________ ___________________ ____________________

10. Name three adjectives that describe one of your most difficult experiences
__________________ ___________________ ____________________

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VERBS

There are several types of verbs: the action verb, the linking verb, and the helping verb.
Action Verbs: An action verb tells what action (often a physical action) a subject is
performing, has performed, or will perform.
My father delivers packages to department stores each day.
Louie bowled a perfect game last night.
Suzanne skated across the rink in Central Park.
Turn at the next corner, Noel.
Oscar will help Petra with the project.
Linking Verbs A linking verb connects (or links) a subject to a noun or an adjective in the
predicate. The most common linking verbs are the forms of the verb “to be” ( is, are, was,
were, been, being, am), appear , become, feel, grow, look, remain, seem, smell, sound, stay,
taste, and turn.
My sister is a doctor. (The linking verb, is, connects the subject, sister, with the
predicate nominative, doctor.)
My sister is studying to become a doctor. (In this sentence the word is is a helping
verb for the main verb, studying. is does not function as a linking verb.)
He appeared tired. (The linking verb, appeared, links the subject, He, with the
predicate adjective, tired. )
He appeared at the game. (In this sentence the verb, appeared, is an action verb, not a
linking verb.)

In the following group of sentences, the odd-numbered sentences exemplify the linking verb
and the even-numbered sentences show the same verb used as either an action verb or a
helping verb. Discuss why each verb functions as it does.
1. Reggie looked confused.
2. Reggie looked for his missing wallet.
3. Tammy grew tired during the long concert.
4. Tammy grew tomatoes in her garden this year.
5. I feel confused in math class.
6. I feel the penny at the bottom of this pool.

Helping Verbs A helping verb assists the main verb in a sentence. There can be more than one
helping verb in each sentence. In a questioning (interrogative) sentence, the helping verb is
usually separated from the main verb. The common helping verbs are am, is, are, was, were,
be, been, being, has, had, have, do, does, did, may, might, must, can, could, shall, should,
will, and would. The italicized word in each sentence below is the helping verb. The
underlined word is the main verb.
The members are going to the city tomorrow evening.
Are the members going to the city tomorrow evening?
That joke has been heard around the office.
Has that joke been heard around the office?
Her brothers are leaving for the train.
Are her brothers leaving for the train?

Exercise
Think you know your verbs? On the lines below, write a verb that starts with the letter a, and
then one that starts with the letter b, and so forth until you have written a verb for each of the
twenty-six letters of the alphabet. These verbs can be action, linking, or helping verbs.

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a b c d e f g
h i j k l m n
o p q r s t u
v w x y z

WRITING TIP Use the precise verb for each situation. Walk might not suit the situation as
well as stroll, pace, totter, or saunter. Use a dictionary or a thesaurus to help you along.

Adverbs
An adverb is a word that modifies (qualifies or limits) a verb, an adjective, or another adverb.
Many adverbs end in - ly. Adverbs answer any of these four questions: Where? When? How?
To what extent?
Adverbs make writing more specific and more exact. Here are some adverbs that do not end
in -ly: again, almost, alone, already, always, away, even, ever, here, just, later, never, now,
nowhere, often, perhaps, quite, rather, seldom, sometimes, somewhat, somewhere, soon,
there, today, too, very, yesterday.
Adverbs can modify verbs:
John ate quickly. (How did he eat?)
I walked there. (Where did I walk?)
Ashleigh will eat soon. (When will Ashleigh eat?)

Adverbs can modify adjectives:

Rex is very happy. (very modifies the adjective happy and answers the question, To
what extent?)
The program was too unrealistic. (Too modifies the adjective unrealistic and answers
the question, To what extent?)

Adverbs can modify other adverbs:

Warren walks too quickly. (Too modifies the adverb quickly and answers the question,
How quickly?)
He moved rather recently. (Rather modifies the adverb recently and answers the
question, How recently?)

When is a word an adjective, and when is it an adverb?

Adjectives describe nouns and pronouns. Adverbs do not.
Adverbs describe verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs. Adjectives do not.
Helen has a yearly membership at the local health club. (Yearly is an adjective since it
modifies the noun membership and tells which membership.)
Helen contributes yearly. (Yearly is an adverb since it modifies the verb contributes
and answers the question, When does Helen contribute?)
Mike arrived late. (Late is an adverb since it tells when Mike arrived.)
The late delivery cut down on sales in the supermarket. (Late is an adjective because it
tells which delivery.)

WRITING TIP Adverbs help readers visualize actions better. Select the precise adverb to help
your reader see more clearly. Slowly might not be as accurate as gradually,leisurely, or
unhurriedly. Use a dictionary or thesaurus for help.

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Exercise
Scrambled Up for You! (Adverbs)
In each sentence, the letters of the underlined adverb are scrambled. Unscramble the letters,
and write the word on the line provided before the sentence.
1. _________ He walks tsaf.
2. _________ Do you want to stop ehre ?
3. _________ He visits his grandmother ywlkee.
4. _________ Do you feel lewl enough to go on the trip?
5. _________ Have you erve been to Mexico City?
6. _________ I wasaly run errands for her.
7. _________ Have I met you foebre ?
8. _________ I would raerht drive to your house tonight.
9. _________ Are you ilslt going to go to summer school?
10. _________ I am tno trying to insult you, Nick.
11. _________ Will you bat frsit tonight?
12. _________ Are you ftneo at this location, Mitch?
13. _________ Let’s start the performance onw.
14. _________ May I aosl assist you, Helene?
15. _________ Thank you nlidyk.

Prepositions
A common preposition is a word that shows the relationship between a noun or a pronoun and
another word in the sentence.
The man swam under the bridge. (Under connects the idea of swam and bridge.)
She walked down the aisle. (Down connects walked and aisle.)
Julie walked around the campus and toward town. (Around connects walked and
campus. Toward connects walked and town. )

Here are the most commonly used prepositions: aboard, about ,above ,across, after, against,
along, among, around, as, at, before, behind, below, beneath, beside, besides, between,
beyond, into, like, near, of, off, on, onto, opposite, out, since, through, throughout, till, to,
toward, under, underneath, until, up, upon, with, within, without……

Exercise
Finding Prepositions
Underline the preposition in each of the following sentences.
1. The teammates walked beyond the bleachers.
2. The track team ran into the hills.
3. The temperature is several degrees below zero.
4. Call me around four o’clock.
5. It is a matter concerning bad behavior.
6. The parents joined in the conversation.
7. Ronnie fell asleep during the professor’s lecture.
8. We found the sleeping cat underneath the blanket.
9. The couple walked near the bridge.
10. The children slid down the slide yesterday

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Conjunctions
A conjunction connects words or group of words. There are three types of conjunctions:
coordinating conjunctions, correlative conjunctions, and subordinating conjunctions.

A coordinating conjunction is a single connecting word. These seven words are for, and, nor,
but, or, yet, and so.
The boys and girls worked at the fair. (And joins the names boys and girls. )
We must leave early, so we can get to the wedding reception on time. (So joins two
sentences or two complete ideas.).
Each letter in the word fanboys stands for a coordinating conjunction (For, And, Nor, But,
Or, Yet, So).

Correlative conjunctions are pairs of connecting words. These five pairs of words are
both/and, either/or, neither/nor, not only/but also, and whether/or.
Both Henry and Henrietta are leaving the dance now. (The correlative conjunctions
join two names.)
Not only will they leave now, but they will also not be here to help clean up. (The
correlative conjunctions join two sentences or complete ideas.)
Either go with them or stay here and help. (The correlative conjunctions illustrate a
choice.)
He went neither to the stadium nor to the concert hall during this vacation. (The
correlative conjunctions join two prepositional phrases.)

WRITING TIP
Using conjunctions adds sophistication to sentences. Rather than using two very simple
sentences such as, “The monkey climbed the tree,” and “The monkey threw down a banana,”
combine them by using the conjunction and:“The monkey climbed the tree and threw down a
banana” is a more sophisticated sentence. Make good use of the conjunctions for combining
ideas.

Exercise
Underline the conjunction or pair of conjunctions in each sentence:
1. Lyle chose both steak and salad for his dinner.
2. I chose neither steak nor salad for my dinner.
3. Either you or he can drive Dad to the train station tomorrow morning.
4. The panda wanted to eat, for he was hungry.
5. Peanut butter and jelly is Rex’s favorite sandwich.
6. Not only the girls but also the boys will be invited to the assembly.
7. Sara did not know whether to swing at the ball or take the pitch.
8. Mark would like to go, but he cannot.
9. Rich likes the food at this restaurant, yet he seldom eats here.
10. Run with him or her.

Use these coordinating and correlative conjunctions in your own sentences:

11. (neither . . . nor):_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

12. (but): _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
13. (for): _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
14. (or) : _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
15. (either . . .or) _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

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Interjections
An interjection is a word that expresses strong feeling or emotion: An interjection usually
comes at the beginning of the sentence. An interjection is often followed by an exclamation
point (!) when the emotion is strong or a comma (,) when the emotion is mild. Do not overuse
interjections. Include one when you want to make your point. If you use too many
interjections, your writing loses its power and effectiveness.
Here are some common interjections: Aw, Bravo, Darn, Dearme,Eek ,Eh ,Gee, Golly,
Goodness, gracious, Gosh, Hallelujah, Hey, Horrors, Hurrah, Hurray, Mmm,Oh, Oh no,
Oops, Ouch,Phew, Rats, Really, Ugh, Yippee…..

WRITING TIP
Interjections express emotion. Do not overuse this part of speech, which generally is found in
dialogue.

Exercise:
Write an appropriate interjection for each of the following sentences in the space provided.
There may be more than one answer for each space.
1. __________ I smashed my finger with the hammer
2. _________, all right, Nick.
3. __________ ! We have finally beaten that team!
4. __________, take it easy, Reggie!
5. __________, I think we better look over this paper immediately.
6. __________ , I forgot to take out the garbage this morning.
7. __________! The tickets for his concert are incredibly expensive!
8. __________! You did so well in tonight’s school play!
9. __________! You have no right to say that to him!
10. __________, now I see what you are trying to say.
11. __________. I am not very keen on that idea.
12. __________, what did Mike say about his tryout?
13. __________! Does your hand still hurt from the accident?
14. __________! Get away from my new car, kid!
15. __________, this food is absolutely delicious!

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